Partners Meeting of the DETOCS Project

On 11 September 2026, a partners’ meeting of the DETOCS Project (DEcarbonising the TOurism Industry Post Covid-19 Support), funded by the Interreg Europe Programme, was held online, bringing partners together to discuss the final stages of the project and the key activities ahead.

The first topic partners discussed was the preparation of the project’s final conference, which will take place on 14-15 October 2026 in Middelburg, Netherlands. Partners discussed the main actions and practical steps needed to ensure a successful conclusion of the project and to present its key achievements and results.

The meeting also focused on the finalisation of the project from both technical and financial perspectives, including the reporting process, project budget execution and the activities planned for the final semester.

Particular attention was given to the Policy Improvements and Action Plans developed within the project, which aim to translate the knowledge, good practices and experiences exchanged among partners into concrete measures and improvements at regional and local level.

For Bulgaria, the Action Plan includes the organisation of targeted training aimed at supporting stakeholders in the tourism sector in improving energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy solutions and planning their green transition. The training will include three modules:

• Energy Efficiency and Infrastructure Improvements, covering insulation, lighting, heating, cooling, ventilation, efficient equipment use and basic energy management;
• Renewable Energy Sources and Low-Carbon Tourism Practices, covering solar energy, local RES production and low-carbon operations;
• Financing, Energy Management and Green Transition Planning, covering Bulgarian financing schemes, preparation for audits, consumption assessment, investment prioritisation and practical steps to reduce operating costs.

These activities will contribute to strengthening the capacity of local stakeholders and tourism businesses to adopt more sustainable and energy-efficient practices, while supporting the transition towards a greener and more resilient tourism sector in Bulgaria.

The meeting marked another important milestone towards the successful completion of the DETOCS Project, highlighting the value of European cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and good practices in developing concrete actions that can contribute to a more sustainable future for tourism and local communities.